Sodiq Yusuff

Sodiq Yusuff on the Growing Concern of the UFC’s Struggles with Racism and Bigotry

UFC and Its Struggles with Racism and Bigotry: A Growing Concern - Sodiq Yusuff UFC featherweight fighter Sodiq Yusuff recently voiced his frustration with the culture surrounding MMA. White men using the N-Word…

UFC featherweight fighter Sodiq Yusuff recently voiced his frustration with the culture surrounding MMA. White men using the N-Word casually, Nazi athletes and blatant racism have made the UFC athlete stand up.

Sodiq Yusuff stated, “At a certain point we gotta want to be taken seriously. The people outside of the MMA echo chamber think it’s a bunch of racist and mentally challenged people in here. Every week someone goes outside and adds on to the stereotype. What are we doing?” His comments highlight a troubling pattern of behavior within the MMA community.

The issue of racism and bigotry in MMA is not new. Prominent figures such as boxing promoter Bob Arum have contributed to the perception of MMA as a problematic space. In 2009, Arum infamously described MMA fans as “skinhead white guys.”

Several UFC fighters have fueled this perception through their own controversial statements. For instance:

Sean Strickland, a former UFC middleweight champion, has openly admitted to holding far-right views, including past neo-Nazi affiliations. He has made homophobic comments, dismissed LGBTQ+ rights, and even joked about violence against marginalized groups. He recently discussed his least favorite race.

Bryce Mitchell, another UFC fighter, recently sparked outrage by praising Adolf Hitler and denying the Holocaust during a podcast episode. Mitchell described Hitler as a “good guy” who sought to “purify” Germany by targeting Jewish communities.

Colby Covington, a former relevant athlete, is known for his provocative persona and being and has made racially charged comments about Black fighters like Kamaru Usman and Tyron Woodley. Covington referred to Usman’s Nigerian heritage in derogatory terms and mocked Woodley’s support for Black Lives Matter

Conor McGregor has once again found himself at the center of controversy after using the N-word during a social media tirade targeting his longtime rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Additionally, Mike Perry has repeatedly used racial slurs, including the N-word.

The repeated controversies involving racism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination have cast a shadow over MMA’s growth as a mainstream sport. Fighters like Sodiq Yusuff are calling for change, emphasizing that such behavior alienates potential fans. As MMA continues to expand globally, addressing these issues will be critical for its credibility.

At a certain point we gotta want to be taken seriously. The people outside of the mma echo chamber think it's a bunch of racist and mentally challenged people in here. Every week someone goes outside and adds on the the stereotype. What are we doing

— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) February 3, 2025

Sodiq Yusuff on the Growing Concern of the UFC’s Struggles with Racism and Bigotry

UFC featherweight fighter Sodiq Yusuff recently voiced his frustration with the culture surrounding MMA. White men using the N-Word…

Sodiq Yusuff

Several UFC fighters have fueled this perception through their own controversial statements. For instance:

At a certain point we gotta want to be taken seriously. The people outside of the mma echo chamber think it's a bunch of racist and mentally challenged people in here. Every week someone goes outside and adds on the the stereotype. What are we doing

— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) February 3, 2025

Diego Lopes steamrolls past Sodiq Yusuff with flattening knockout win – UFC 300 Highlights

Surging Brazilian contender, Diego Lopes continues his roughshod run through featherweight contenders tonight on the late preliminary card of…

Surging Brazilian contender, Diego Lopes continues his roughshod run through featherweight contenders tonight on the late preliminary card of UFC 300 — blowing through Nigerian contender, Sodiq Yusuff for a blistering opening round knockout.

Diego Lopes UFC 300 — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Lopes, an alum of Dana White’s Contender Series — rebounded from a close decision loss to the highly-touted, Movsar Evloev in his short-notice Octagon debut, racking up an armbar submission win over Gavin Tucker, before turning in a KO win over Pat Sabatini.

Diego Lopes UFC 300 Zuffa LLC — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

And getting the well-travelled, Yusuff out of there within a minute and a half of the first round in their featherweight scrap at UFC 300, finishing sensation, Lopes dropped the former with a tight uppercut in the clinch, before Yusuff managed to gather his senses.

lopes ufc 300 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

However, it would prove only momentarily for Yusuff, who was sent to the canvas once more by Lopes with another sharp uppercut in the clinch, before he forced the issue with a slew of ground strikes for a first round knockout win.

Below, catch the highlights from Diego Lopes’ victory against Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300

Edson Barboza rallies to land vintage decision win over Sodiq Yusuff with striking showcase – UFC Vegas 81 Highlights

Veteran striking favorite, Edson Barboza has landed his first main event victory under the UFC banner at the fourth time of trying — landing a unanimous decision win over Nigerian contender, Sodiq Yusuff in their featherweight headliner tonight at UFC Vegas 81, after a tense back-and-forth. Dealing with massive adversity in the opening round of […]

Dealing with massive adversity in the opening round of their main event showdown, Nova Friburgo native, Edson Barboza was almost stopped in the opening frame by Yusuff — who likely landed a 10-8 frame on judge’s and fan’s scorecards, dropping the Brazilian with a slew of strikes as part of a dominant and lengthy barrage.

Fresh from a stunning, highlight-reel flying knee knockout win over Billy Quarantillo in his most recent Octagon walk, American Top Team striker, Barboza would land some keen body strikes in the second round to steal the frame.

Almost closing the show in the final minute of the third round to boot, Barboza landed a whipping wheel kick, catching Yusuff at the fence and sending him to the canvas. Unable to wrapping up a front headlock choke submission, Barboza rode out the frame on top.

And in the fourth and frame frames, Barboza would land victories in each, even displaying his less than utilized grappling and wrestling work in the final round to take two takedowns over Yusuff, en route to a second straight victory inside the Octagon.

Below, catch the highlights from Edson Barboza’s win over Sodiq Yusuff at UFC Vegas 81

#UFCVegas81 Results: Edson Barboza def. Sodiq Yusuff by unanimous decision after an absolute WAR pic.twitter.com/i8juVjXuYE

— MMAWeekly (@MMAWeeklycom) October 15, 2023

Yusuff: Dern Wasn’t Supposed To Talk About Zuckerberg At The APEX

Sodiq Yusuff says he can keep a secret, unlike some other fighters. Last week the UFC held a Fight Night event in the UFC APEX arena in Las Vegas. Leading up to the event all things seemed normal until Tuesday of fight week when the UFC began to warn m…

Continue Reading Yusuff: Dern Wasn’t Supposed To Talk About Zuckerberg At The APEX at MMA News.

MMA Twitter Reacts To Yusuff’s 30-Second Win At UFC Vegas 61

Sodiq Yusuff barely even had time to break a sweat in his main card bout opposite Don Shainis at UFC Vegas 61. The 29-year-old entered the matchup with the debuting Shainis as the event’s biggest favorite by a rather significant margin, but Yusuff’s pe…

Continue Reading MMA Twitter Reacts To Yusuff’s 30-Second Win At UFC Vegas 61 at MMA News.